hile her sharp eyes seemed to appraise everything as
she sat down and removed her bonnet.

"Go fetch me a drink," she said, "and take the horse one and then I'll
tell you why I came."

"I don't care why you came," said Kate, "but Oh, Mother, thank God you
are here!"

"Now, now, don't get het up!" cautioned Mrs. Bates. "Water, I said."

Kate hurried to obey orders; then she sank on a chair and looked at her
mother. Mrs. Bates wiped her face and settled in the chair comfortably.

"They's no use to waste words," she said. "Katie, you're the only one
in the family that has any sense, and sometimes you ain't got enough
so's you could notice it without a magnifyin' glass; but even so,
you're ahead of the rest of them. Katie, I'm sick an' tired of the
Neppleses and the Whistlers and being bossed by the whole endurin'
Bates tribe; sick and tired of it, so I just came after you."

"Came after me?" repeated Kate stupidly.

"Yes, parrot, 'came after you,'" said Mrs. Bates. "I told you, you'd
no great amount of sense. I'm speakin' plain, ain't I? I don't see
much here to hold you. I want you should throw a few traps, whatever
you are beholden to, in the wagon--that's why I brought it--and come on
home and take care of me the rest of my time. It won't be so long; I
won't interfere much, nor be much bother. I've kep' the place in
order, but I'm about fashed. I won't admit it to the rest of them; but
I don't seem to mind telling you, Katie, that I am almost winded. Will
you come?"

"Of course I will," said Kate, a tide of effulgent joy surging up in
her heart until it almost choked her. "Of course I will, Mother, but
my children, won't they worry you?"

"Never having had a child about, I s'pect likely they may," said Mrs.
Bates, dryly. "Why, you little fool! I think likely it's the children
I am pinin' for most, though I couldn't a-stood it much longer without
YOU. Will you get ready and come with me to-day?"

"Yes," said Kate, "if I can make it. There's very little here I care
for; I can have the second-hand man give me what he will for the rest;
and I can get a good price for the lot to-day, if I say so. Dr. James
wants it to build on. I'll go and do the very best I can, and when you
don't want me any longer, Adam will be bigger and we can look out for
ourselves. Yes, I'll get ready at once if you want me to."

"Not much of a haggler, are you, Katie?" said Mrs. Bates. "Why don't
you ask what rooms y